There’s probably no better place to learn about water than on the water.
With that thought in mind, state legislators, Delaware River Basin Commission members and others took to the river in the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel September 10 on an educational excursion aimed at driving home the importance of maintaining water quality in the Delaware, and everywhere else. The trip was organized by the DRBC.
Starting from docks in Bristol Borough, the several dozen passengers enjoyed a two-hour voyage covering roughly 5 miles round trip. While on board, they had lunch and moved around the ship to different stations, where they learned from representatives of several businesses and organizations about the importance of water quality in various processes.
Among the passengers were several Philadelphia-area legislators, including state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, and state Reps. KC Tomlinson – Tommy’s daughter, Perry Warren and Meghan Schroeder, all from Bucks County.
Also on board were state Sen. Art Haywood, state Reps. Mary Isaacson, Greg Vitali and Joe Webster, and staff members representing U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Madeleine Dean and Susan Wild.
“Most people don’t think about water, it’s just there,” said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. “But there’s a whole host of people who work to take care of it, including our commission.
“Sixty years ago, the Delaware River was so polluted people didn’t want to be on it, but it’s made a remarkable recovery. We ought to celebrate that, and that’s why we’re here today.”
New Jersey American Water official Matthew Csik told passengers that maintaining and improving water quality is a team effort.
“What we fail to see sometimes is how we need to invest in relationships,” he said. “It’s very important for us to work with watershed groups, community leaders, state and local officials and others.”
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